Half of UK firms find trading with EU difficult post-Brexit, says new survey December 21, 2022 More than half of UK businesses who trade overseas are finding it difficult to trade goods with the EU post-Brexit, according to a new survey. A new poll from the British Chambers of Commerce found that 56 per cent of firms “face difficulties adapting to the new rules for trading goods” with the EU and [...]
Sunak looks East: The PM’s China strategy has become clear December 21, 2022 It took Rishi Sunak less than a week into his Tory leadership battle with Liz Truss to dramatically swerve to the right. Amid the flurry of policies designed to win over the grassroots included a promise to be more belligerent toward China than Boris Johnson. Sunak promised to label the country as an official “threat”, [...]
Ukraine’s president Zelensky heads to US in first trip since Kremlin’s invasion December 21, 2022 Ukraine’s president Vlodymyr Zelensky is heading to the US for his first foreign trip since Russia invaded. The leader will address the US Congress and meet his counterpart, President Joe Biden. He announced the move on Twitter after days of speculation about whether he would travel. On social media he wrote: “On my way to [...]
Best London areas to live: From schools to roads and care, this is where council tax takes you the furthest December 21, 2022 As the cost of living crisis rages, energy bills are rising and inflation is biting harder than ever, the council tax rebate scheme was introduced to lift some burden off Brits’ shoulders. However, with it still a significant cost, where in London and across the UK are residents getting the most in return for their council tax? [...]
Strikes: Sunak says public sector pay process doesn’t need reform December 20, 2022 Rishi Sunak has thrown his backing behind the government’s independent pay review process for public sector workers, despite this month’s widespread strikes. The Prime Minister told MPs on a Westminster committee today that pay offers to striking NHS staff members were “fair” as Number 10 today said Sunak would not intervene to negotiate with unions. [...]
Sadiq Khan to run for third term as London mayor in 2024 election December 20, 2022 Sadiq Khan will seek a third term as London mayor, after being selected as Labour’s candidate for the 2024 election. Khan, who would be the first London mayor to win three elections if victorious in 2024, said it would be a “very tough election” and that “there’s still so much more to do.” There have [...]
Second strike: Nurses walk out again as five key London hospitals decimated December 20, 2022 Nurses in Britain will go on their second day of industrial action in the space of a week with five London hospitals to be the centre of the strikes. The hospitals to be affected include Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Guys and St. Thomas’ and Imperial College Healthcare, Royal Marsden and NHS North Central London. [...]
Jeremy Hunt extends alcohol duty freeze until August December 19, 2022 Planned hikes in alcohol duty have been put off until August, afterJeremy Hunt decided to extend the current freeze a further six months. The chancellor was due to increase duty on beer, wine, cider and spirits by the annual increase in RPI on 1 February. This would have meant an average increase of 7p for [...]
Economic immigration must be presented as supplementing the UK workforce December 19, 2022 Channel crossings and record levels of working migrants coming to post-pandemic Britain have seenimmigration very much back in the news. It’s an issue we need to talk about, because immigration is only going to become more important for the UK in the future. On the demand side, Britain’s ageing population and skills shortages will mean an ongoing [...]
Covid: Government to sue Baroness Mone-linked firm over £122m PPE contract December 19, 2022 The government is suing a firm linked to Baroness Michelle Mone, after it was handed contracts worth more than £200m to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) during Covid-19. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) today announced it was suing PPE Medpro for £122m plus costs, after the firm allegedly breached a contract “regarding [...]